The Broken Strings : A Manan ff (Chapter 7)

Nandini’s P.O.V ~

Boring… boring… boring !!! I couldn’t concentrate on anything! All I kept thinking about was Manik. I couldn’t concentrate on how the human brain functions. All I knew was, right now, my brain had stopped functioning properly. I was daydreaming about Manik Malhotra when I should be studying for my exam.

I looked again at the phone which was kept right beside me. I’d checked it a hundred times in last one hour. I was only waiting for one call from him… or maybe a text?

After checking the phone so many times, I’d started to feel that maybe I was hoping against hope. Am I that boring? I thought…

Hi, we’re One Direction, and this is the most annoying ringtone ever-
My thoughts were interrupted by Zayn Malik’s voice coming out of my phone. I quickly picked up the phone and pressed the answer button.

” Hello? ” I spoke and realized I hadn’t even seen the name of the caller. But I wished it was him.

” Nandini… hi, ” He spoke. Yes! It was him. I felt happy thinking that he had not forgotten me yet.

” Hi Manik, what’s up? ” I asked trying to sound casual, but actually, I was doing a happy dance from inside.

” Nothing much yaar. Acha listen, actually um… a friend of mine, who stays in Mumbai, has a little get-together tomorrow evening. I couldn’t say no and he- ” He said, but I cut him off. He wasn’t free. He had to go somewhere else. I wanted to meet him again, but his friends were equally important. I couldn’t be so selfish…

” Its okay, Manik. You don’t have to explain anything. Friends are important. You should go… ” I said earning a little laugh from him.

” Nandu… listen to me first… ” He said. I waited for him to proceed. ” Actually I told him about you… and he wants you to come as well… ”

What? Seriously? Now I go meet his friends? I thought.

” I-I’m not sure… I mean I don’t even know anybody, and also I don’t want to be a party-crasher, you know? ”

” You’re not a party-crasher, and don’t worry, there aren’t much people there. It’s just a few friends, that’s it… ” He said. I kept quiet and thought about it for a moment. Again I had that blank look on my face.

” Nandu, I know what you’re thinking. I promise, you won’t be left out. I’ll be there na baba… ” He said snapping me out of my thoughts.

” What if they don’t like me? What if I’m too boring? ” I asked in a low tone.

” Boring? Nandini, how many times do I have to say that you’re not boring? Look, I can’t force you to come. But it’s just that… I have only a couple of days left. After that, I’ll be going back to Delhi; and I know this sounds cheesy, but I want to spend whatever time I’ve left with you… so… please? ” He said and I pictured him pulling a cute puppy dog face. How could I say no to that?

” Oh… um… okay… ” I said and smiled a little. It wouldn’t be that bad, would it?

” Are you sure? I mean only if you’re comfortable… ”

” I am… ” I said with some extra confidence. Well, I won’t lie, but I was nervous.

” Okay, then! Cool… I’ll pick you up tomorrow around 5:30… ” He said.

” I’ll be waiting… bye, ”

” Bye Nandini… ”

” Bye Manik… ”

” Bye… ” He said and I couldn’t stop smiling like an idiot.

” Bye… ” I said. We kept on saying bye repeatedly, I didn’t want to hang up so soon… neither did he. But then, I had to as my gaze darted towards the book on the table. Human brain…

I sighed. ” Okay, seriously, bye Manik… I’ll see you tomorrow, I’ve to study now… ” I said.

” I know… yeah, see you tomorrow. Study well. Bye… ” He said and I pictured him smiling as a beep was heard from the other end. He hung up.

I was smiling stupidly to myself and shook my head trying to concentrate on the human brain…

***

This is what happens to me when I think about Parth. Lolz.